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Group helping people with diabetes make healthy lifestyle choices

Do or Diabetes is helping people living with diabetes make healthy lifestyle choices through peer support, cooking classes, and walking groups
Walking Group 1
Hafsa Siddiqui and Andrew Bohonis lead the first spring walking group at the Cascade Conservation Area to promote healthy lifestyle choices for people living with diabetes.

THUNDER BAY - Being diagnosed with diabetes can result in significant changes to an individual’s life, but one local group is working to make it easier for people living with diabetes make healthy lifestyle choices through peer support and physical activity.

Do or Diabetes was launched in 2017 by Hafsa Siddiqui who was diagnosed with diabetes in her adolescence. The group is meant to inspire people to take control of their condition through peer support, wellness workshops, and physical activity programs.

On Sunday, the group hosted its first spring walking group at the Cascades Conservation Area.

“Our goal is really to get people out and moving,” Siddiqui said. “Some people don’t necessarily have friends or people that can go out on walks with and explore the outdoors, so our goal is to get people out and moving.”

The walking group is free and open to everyone. Money is raised for Do or Diabetes through cooking classes, which helps finance other activities like the walking group.

“We did walking groups in the fall and people were excited to get out here,” Siddiqui said. “People have been interested in coming out and exploring the outdoors with us.”

“Every Sunday until about mid-June at Cascades and after that we are going to start throwing in a few more challenging hikes like Mount McKay or Lost Falls. It depends on interest and what people want.”

Andrew Bohonis, who has helped Siddiqui organize events with Do or Diabetes, said she has a volunteer spirit and wanted to get involved in the community to help people stay motivated while living with diabetes.

“People do often need lifestyle support, like maintaining a healthy diet and being physically active, so that is the approach it has taken,” he said. “In addition to the walking groups, she is doing cooking classes and trying to organize more educational and lifestyle support.”

The walking group will gather every Sunday. Anyone interested in participating is welcomed to sign up on the Do or Diabetes Facebook page.



Doug Diaczuk

About the Author: Doug Diaczuk

Doug Diaczuk is a reporter and award-winning author from Thunder Bay. He has a master’s degree in English from Lakehead University
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